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CIP 14.0201 Engineering

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering, General

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

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Total graduates

10,020

2025 · 90 schools

International share

10.7%

1,076 international students

Bachelor's degrees

6,849

5.6% international

Master's degrees

2,670

19.4% international

Overview

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on the design, development, and production of aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems and equipment. It encompasses various aspects of engineering, including mechanical, electrical, materials, and computer engineering, to create innovative solutions for air and space travel.

Aeronautical engineering primarily deals with the design and operation of aircraft within Earth's atmosphere. This involves studying aerodynamics, propulsion, flight mechanics, and materials science to enhance the performance and safety of commercial and military aircraft. Students in this area learn how to analyze aerodynamic forces, optimize flight paths, and ensure compliance with aviation regulations.

On the other hand, astronautical or space engineering focuses on the technology and systems used in outer space exploration. This includes the design of spacecraft, satellites, and space missions, as well as the development of propulsion systems capable of operating in the vacuum of space. Topics such as orbital mechanics, space environment effects, and spacecraft systems are critical in preparing students for careers in the burgeoning field of space exploration.

Graduates of aerospace engineering programs often find opportunities in various sectors, including government agencies like NASA and the Department of Defense, private aerospace companies, and research institutions. With the increasing interest in space tourism, satellite technology, and sustainable aviation, this field continues to evolve, presenting exciting career prospects for innovative engineers passionate about aviation and space exploration.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2002 to 2025, graduates grew 279% and the international share went from 19.9% to 10.7%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
54.5%
Asian
12.4%
Hispanic
12.4%
Black
2.3%
Other
7.7%
Intl.
10.7%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 90 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts 133 23
#5 California Institute of Technology California 18 4
#5 Stanford University California 94 16
#9 Johns Hopkins University Maryland 161 2
#14 Cornell University New York 43 6
#16 Washington University in St Louis Missouri 19 0
#16 Rice University Texas 5 1
#20 University of California-Berkeley California 1 0
#20 University of California-Los Angeles California 104 3
#20 University of Notre Dame Indiana 57 0
#25 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Michigan 277 47
#26 University of Virginia-Main Campus Virginia 68 3
#27 University of Southern California California 241 29
#29 University of California-San Diego California 110 15
#29 Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Georgia 593 124
#34 University of California-Davis California 73 3
#34 University of California-Irvine California 78 7
#34 University of Florida Florida 205 23
#34 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Illinois 237 45
#34 The University of Texas at Austin Texas 165 26
#44 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Jersey 47 1
#44 Case Western Reserve University Ohio 49 6
#44 Ohio State University-Main Campus Ohio 112 4
#49 University of Maryland-College Park Maryland 195 11
#49 University of Washington-Seattle Campus Washington 142 14
#52 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia 302 30
#55 Santa Clara University California 3 0
#55 University of Miami Florida 8 0
#55 The Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania 230 25
#55 Purdue University-Main Campus Indiana 667 101
#59 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Minnesota 112 12
#59 Texas A & M University-College Station Texas 292 21
#69 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute New York 116 8
#72 Syracuse University New York 43 0
#73 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Massachusetts 105 2
#73 North Carolina State University at Raleigh North Carolina 152 13
#85 University at Buffalo New York 132 14
#100 Auburn University Alabama 119 14
#100 Saint Louis University Missouri 28 4
#109 University of Colorado Boulder Colorado 466 37
#109 The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Tennessee 88 3
#116 Iowa State University Iowa 154 16
#116 University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Oklahoma 52 4
#121 Arizona State University-Tempe Arizona 197 36
#121 University of Arizona Arizona 68 8
#121 University of Central Florida Florida 288 18
#121 Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois 23 3
#121 University of Dayton Ohio 22 2
#121 University of South Carolina-Columbia South Carolina 34 1
#137 California State University--Long Beach California 121 5
#137 San Diego State University California 106 3
#137 San Jose State University California 111 6
#137 Clarkson University New York 39 2
#137 University of Houston Texas 12 3
#148 University of Kansas Kansas 68 6
#148 University of Kentucky Kentucky 15 1
#156 The University of Alabama Alabama 114 9
#179 University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Ohio 124 41
#191 Missouri University of Science and Technology Missouri 103 4
#191 Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Oklahoma 96 0
#208 Mississippi State University Mississippi 78 7
#227 University of Texas-San Antonio Texas 4 0
#227 West Virginia University West Virginia 64 0
#236 Florida Institute of Technology Florida 122 32
#236 Kent State University at Kent Ohio 32 6
#236 University of Texas-Arlington Texas 85 12
#250 New Mexico State University-Main Campus New Mexico 89 28
#262 University of Alabama--Huntsville Alabama 157 6
#262 University of Texas--El Paso Texas 18 0
#276 Western Michigan University Michigan 62 13
#288 University of Hartford Connecticut 7 0
#288 Wichita State University Kansas 73 16
#288 Utah State University Utah 18 1
#342 University of Akron Ohio 17 0
#382 University of Colorado--Colorado Springs Colorado 3 0
#382 Wright State University-Main Campus Ohio 5 2
LAC #3 United States Naval Academy Maryland 53 0
LAC #11 United States Air Force Academy Colorado 121 4
— Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Florida 461 59
— Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Florida 134 4
— Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Arizona 132 5
— California State Polytechnic University-Pomona California 128 4
— California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo California 113 0
— Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management Ohio 63 0
— Naval Postgraduate School California 42 3
— Tuskegee University Alabama 18 0
— Morehead State University Kentucky 11 1
— Capitol Technology University Maryland 5 0
— Southern New Hampshire University New Hampshire 3 0
— LeTourneau University Texas 1 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Architectural and Engineering Managers 220,260 $87.28 $181,540
Aerospace Engineers 67,710 $68.30 $142,060
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 40,270 — $124,520

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2002–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.